Coming about...
Y'know, I was musing the other day about my situation at work, and realized that I've come nearly 180 degrees from where I was when I started there.
I went to Lagoon, initially, because there was an urgent need for my skills. That much hasn't changed (the skills they need have expanded, but I'm still very much in demand).
I went back, for the full-time season, because I loved the people I would be working with. When I started down there, I was very unsure of my ability to do my job (I'd never really learned to sew, just a few odds and ends that I picked up from Mom and what Nancy taught me in the Costume Shop...where I didn't work that often on sewing projects).
When our current Operations Manager told me he was leaving the middle of this month to go to law school, it put me in a reflective mood. He is, really, the last existing connection to my first season at the park. The directors, managers, and choreographers that were there when I started have all moved on (most to Disney, in one function or another). Alex had been a performer my first year, and was hired to be operations manager a couple of years later. All of the other performers are gone...their younger siblings are now taking their places, and some of them are preparing to move on (not necessarily to better things...call me biased, but having worked with some of the people going through the program, I actually consider BYU's Young Ambassadors program to be a step down--more performance opportunities, for larger crowds, but they've got a really poor work ethic...most of the people we've had to let go in the time I've been at Lagoon have been out of that program.)
So, now I'm in a position where I'm very confident in my job, and I love my work...but I don't so much care for the people with whom I'm working (other than the performers...) It's not that I dislike them--I just feel very ambivalent toward them, and don't necessarily trust them to come up with a strong show concept. There are a lot of people that have strong criticism for Mark and Christy, who were running the program when I started here; but you could never accuse them of not being dedicated to their shows. And I just don't feel that anymore...the passion for the work isn't there, or doesn't seem to be there...there are days that I really miss Mark coming in and going on at great length about the new show he was developing. And for all that it was a tremendous pain, I definitely miss the weekly memo of stuff from Christy that she noticed while watching the shows...hems that needed to be pressed, or shoes that needed to be polished more often. I really miss the fact that they would spend days and days, at the end of the Frightmares season, preparing home-made chili and making snacks for our closing party--the purpose of that party seems to have utterly eluded the current staff. It wasn't just a party...it was THEIR party, and the work they put into it was their way of saying 'Thank you for a great season' to the performers. That personal touch is gone...and I miss it a lot.
Maybe I'll have to write Mark and see if I can get his chili recipe...some traditions shouldn't be left to die, even if it takes a palace revolt of sorts to sustain them.
Y'know, I was musing the other day about my situation at work, and realized that I've come nearly 180 degrees from where I was when I started there.
I went to Lagoon, initially, because there was an urgent need for my skills. That much hasn't changed (the skills they need have expanded, but I'm still very much in demand).
I went back, for the full-time season, because I loved the people I would be working with. When I started down there, I was very unsure of my ability to do my job (I'd never really learned to sew, just a few odds and ends that I picked up from Mom and what Nancy taught me in the Costume Shop...where I didn't work that often on sewing projects).
When our current Operations Manager told me he was leaving the middle of this month to go to law school, it put me in a reflective mood. He is, really, the last existing connection to my first season at the park. The directors, managers, and choreographers that were there when I started have all moved on (most to Disney, in one function or another). Alex had been a performer my first year, and was hired to be operations manager a couple of years later. All of the other performers are gone...their younger siblings are now taking their places, and some of them are preparing to move on (not necessarily to better things...call me biased, but having worked with some of the people going through the program, I actually consider BYU's Young Ambassadors program to be a step down--more performance opportunities, for larger crowds, but they've got a really poor work ethic...most of the people we've had to let go in the time I've been at Lagoon have been out of that program.)
So, now I'm in a position where I'm very confident in my job, and I love my work...but I don't so much care for the people with whom I'm working (other than the performers...) It's not that I dislike them--I just feel very ambivalent toward them, and don't necessarily trust them to come up with a strong show concept. There are a lot of people that have strong criticism for Mark and Christy, who were running the program when I started here; but you could never accuse them of not being dedicated to their shows. And I just don't feel that anymore...the passion for the work isn't there, or doesn't seem to be there...there are days that I really miss Mark coming in and going on at great length about the new show he was developing. And for all that it was a tremendous pain, I definitely miss the weekly memo of stuff from Christy that she noticed while watching the shows...hems that needed to be pressed, or shoes that needed to be polished more often. I really miss the fact that they would spend days and days, at the end of the Frightmares season, preparing home-made chili and making snacks for our closing party--the purpose of that party seems to have utterly eluded the current staff. It wasn't just a party...it was THEIR party, and the work they put into it was their way of saying 'Thank you for a great season' to the performers. That personal touch is gone...and I miss it a lot.
Maybe I'll have to write Mark and see if I can get his chili recipe...some traditions shouldn't be left to die, even if it takes a palace revolt of sorts to sustain them.
posted by Curtis at 11:05 AM
5 Comments:
I love chili!
You know, Curtis, these blogs can come back and bite you. Remember what happened to Nick and his students.
I just went on a trip to Glacier National Park with two guys that work at Sacramento State University in the athletics department and they now write into their scholarships that no awardee can have a MySpace or blog while at school. Seems they post things that get themselves and the schools in trouble and publish pictures that embarrass the program (parties, guns, etc.).
Just a warning regarding work stuff. I have to keep reminding myself the same thing. Now and then I post a review of a USU show and some students pick up on it. The first one or two were rather vicious (but honest from my perspective). I still intend to post those reviews but I'll keep personal feelings out of it (as hard as that will be).
People are getting canned for stuff they're innocently putting on the internet.
I appreciate the concern on my behalf, Kevin...and those thoughts did cross my mind as I was writing. But, although I was not being as direct there, I really didn't say anything here that I haven't already said in some of our staff meetings at work.
But I have been known to sound off from time to time, without having thought through the potential consequences. Something for me to keep in mind for the future.
I'm only saying it because I've been caught in the crossfire too many times. Sometimes things just have to be said (or so it seems to me) and I often wish there was more candor in the workplace. You say things very even-handed and fairly. I tend to be a bit mean. That's my problem. But then it really rankles me when there are people doing things they have no business doing. I'm against tenure for that very reason. Do your job, don't take advantage of students (financially or otherwise), keep up on the current trends and studies, work professionally, and everything works out best for the students.
If only more people felt the same way...
Heh...yep, been there. I suspect we've both experienced the wrath of the same certain individual(s) for speaking too bluntly about him/her/them. Part of my aversion to politics in general, I guess...too much unpleasant experience with it in the workplace and at school. Probably also one of the reasons I'm still floundering around somewhere in the middle of the organizational structure at work...I hate politicking, so I stink at rubbing elbows and earning brownie points.
I guess I still adhere to the old school of thought that one should progress at work on the basis of one's expertise in the field, rather than one's ability to suck up to the right people. And, here, I feel quite safe saying that about any of the people I work with...because even though I don't agree with their styles, they ARE very good at what they do. (Now, don't get me started on the rest of the park...'nuff said!)
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